2002 Mercedes Benz C320 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other C320 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mercedes Benz C320. That is the most of any C320 model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (36 complaints, 53%), typically at around 75,500 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 68owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Mercedes Benz C320 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 36 | 53% | 75,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 23 | 34% | 68,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 7% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 7% | 80,444 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 7% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 6% | 92,887 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 3% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 3% | 90,338 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 3% | 54,452 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | 92,887 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 3% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1% | 92,887 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | 3 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Mercedes Benz C320 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Battery drains after being parked overnight, 58,000 miles, dealer maintained since new. Driven by a little old lady until I bought it. Took it to the dealer and they replaced one of the seat modules. Soon afterward, the problem recurred. Took it back to the dealer and they said it was a defective…
Suddenly started driving badly on the highway. It would swerve side to side after hitting a bump. The rear sits about two inches lower than the front. My trusty independent mechanic said I should check the rear subframe and refrain from driving the car. KBB lists a safety recall for this issue…
While changing one of the lights in the headlight housing, I found the wiring's insulation rotting off all the wires, exposing the bare copper presenting a fire hazard.
Vehicle constantly smells like gas inside the cabin, it makes me dizzy and affects my head overall health inhaling vapors. At first I thought I could handle it, but it just gives me nonstop headaches and I'm afraid one spark will ignite/ explode my entire vehicle. This happens everytime I fill the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes benz c320. The contact stated that the battery was drained after the vehicle was parked and turned off. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the driver's side seat module…
Other Mercedes Benz C320 years
See all Mercedes Benz C320 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mercedes Benz C320?
Owners most often report electrical system, seats, electronic stability control (esc) problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 36 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Mercedes Benz C320?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 Mercedes Benz C320 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other C320 model years, the 2002 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.